The Seduction of Sebastian St. James (House of Renwick #2)(59)

Sebastian grinned, locking his eyes with Emma. “Good, now get on with it.”

As the owner scurried away to ready a room, Emma poked Sebastian in the chest. “You did that on purpose!”

Nicholas laughed in the background, apparently enjoying the entertainment.

Sebastian didn’t deny it. “Of course I did. I wanted her full attention, and now she will try even harder to please you.”

Emma wanted to be cross with him, but he was being sweet, and it did seem to be working as all four of them watched the dress shop owner scurry around in a frenzy trying to get materials ready for her own personal viewing.

“Have fun,” Sebastian whispered in her ear. And he and Nicholas were out the door.

****

The day of the ball arrived. Emma would be lying if she said she was anything but dizzy with nerves. The dress had been delivered only that morning and with it a personalized note from the owner of the shop.

“Shine,” it said.

One word.

Emma felt ill. Lifting her eyes to the mirror, she gasped at her reflection. Needing to be alone, she had excused all the maids from her room, yet the whole time they were readying her she hadn’t the nerve to look at herself in the mirror. What if it wasn’t what she thought? What if the dress was a disappointment? Or a disaster? She wanted more than anything to make Sebastian proud this night. And yes, a small part of her wanted her parents to be proud and envious of the man at her side.

Steadying herself, she took a few deep breaths then heard a knock on the door. “Come in.”

Sebastian stood at the door, his eyes trained on her face, then ever so slowly they caressed the rest of her body paying special attention to her bosom. Feeling naked she almost wrapped her arms around herself. Never had a man looked at her so openly or sensually.

“Are you entirely sure you want to go to the ball?” he asked once he reached her side. “This dress…”

“Is it terrible?”

“Yes.” Sebastian nipped her neck with his teeth. “Remove it immediately, before I rip it away from your body.

Laughing, she pushed him away. “Sebastian! Stop.”

He was pawing at the back, trying to remove the dress as he kissed her neck and nipped with his teeth. Insufferable man.

“Husband! Angel duke?” At this she lifted her eyebrow. “We will be late! Now tell me the words I need to hear so I can have courage tonight.”

“Beautiful, stunning, perfect, and most of all, mine.”

Emma had to look away to swallow the lump in her throat.

“And, Emma? It will be fine, I promise you.”

Nodding her head she allowed a single tear to escape, then promptly followed him out, glancing one last time at the mirror.

****

Sebastian hadn’t been joking. His desire for his wife was so powerful he wanted nothing more than to rip the dress she was currently wearing until scraps of it were scattered about the floor before sufficiently rendering her boneless and whetting his own appetite, tasting and exploring every inch of her until she begged him to stop.

Thinking about it was doing nothing to make his mood any lighter. The idea of going to a ball just to please the ton all at once seemed admirable. It felt more of a nuisance, especially given the dress currently hanging on her body.

Blue satin wrapped around her curves and gathered at the back where the material scooped scandalously low, he found himself more than once stealing a glance at the amount of skin exposed on her backside. It might be wise for him to walk behind her, given a man’s tendency to stare, and he had no problem being the only one with a view. He only prayed he wouldn’t have to kill any idiotic gentleman who had an itch to prolong his stare.

Emma flashed him a devastating smile before entering the carriage. It was entirely possible that it would be a long night for the angel duke. One spent guarding his wife from young puppies and rakes.

But even before protecting her, what he wanted most was to dance.

****

They arrived at the ball late, which was exactly how Sebastian had planned it. Not wanting the majority of the ton to be distracted when they made their entrance, he gave their names and smiled when they were announced.

Emma, however, was not pleased. “Why didn’t they introduce us as married?”

Sebastian had known it would cause some momentary pain, but the plan he had was for Emma to truly see how much he cherished the woman she was. Not only was he proud of her, he would cause more scandal in order to have her.

“Trust me.”

As they walked by, people whispered her name. He felt Emma tense underneath his touch.

“I’ll just be a minute, Emma,” he said, leaving her alone.

He walked over to his grandmother, though he kept an eye on Emma as people gave her the obvious cut direct. Being with him had only de-clawed some of the ton, but the majority of them were now ignoring her completely. Emma kept her head high. He wanted to applaud her as she continued to try to be polite even when others shunned her.

The dowager duchess seemed to be waiting for him, an odd smile on her lips. “I see she was successful, then?”

“Grandmother?”

“In seducing you. Don’t think my eyes are too weak to notice the way you were stealing glances at her just now. So when is the wedding?”

“A few days…ago.”

The dowager laughed, gaining the attention of many, though no one seemed at all bothered. “So why have you not introduced her as your new duchess?”